Ideas for Helping Your Child Get a Great Start for the New School Year

Get a great start in the new school year requires some planning and preparation,both on your part and the part of your child. The most important thing that your child can do to prepare is read, read, and read some more. The only saying "practice makes perfect" is so true when it comes to reading. The more they read, the faster they become at reading whcih will save them time in the long run.

If your child is transitioning to a new school this year, visit the school in advance with them. This will relieve some of the anxiety that they may be feeling about that first day. Atleast they will have an idea where they are going. If possible walk them through their schedule, so they will know how to get from one place to another. If the schedule is not available, pick up a map of the school and map out their route when the schedule is available.

Obtain a list of supplies that your child will need for the school term and purchase them in advance. Your child will then be prepared for those teachers who start into it on the first day.

Attend the open house or meet and greet at your school. Take your child with you if they are allowed to come. Sign up to volunteer for whatever you can make time to do in the school. This will send the message to your child and theiir teachers that your child's schooling is important to you.

If you feel the need to meet with a teacher about your child's special needs, try to wait a few weeks. Let your child's teachers get to know your child, the meeting will be much more informative if you give the teacher this time. The exception to this is if your child has medical needs that the teacher needs to know about. In that case, you may want to call the school over the summer and set up an appointment with the school nurse to discuss your child's needs. The beginning of the week before school starts is a good time to make that call, as the staff is back from summer break.

How to Talk to Our Children about Deadly Weather Events Like the Joplin Tornado

Whether it's a deadly tornado, hurricane or flooding, weather events of the magnitude of the tornados that hit Joplin and the Midwest strike fear in all of us including our children. We are drawn to watching the news stories on these weather events 24/7. Be aware of the effect that watching these stories is having on not only you but your children. It may be difficult to talk to your children about these situations because you may be feeling as if you have no control over whether it could happen to you. Make peace with your emotions before addressing these stories with your children, but don't wait too long. The fear that your chiild is feeling may be growing with each hour that passes.

Focus your discussion on the way that family, friends and strangers are lending a hand to help out. If you are so inclined perhaps you and your child could gather things that will help in the relief effort or pray together for the victims and the survivors.

Include some discussion about what your family would do if a storm was headed your way. Maybe even taking the time to do a practice drill like they do in the schools. Living in Florida has taught me that it is very important to be prepared for a weather event. People tend to become complacent about these storms when we go years without a major hit. Many people were caught by surprise when we were hit by three hurricanes in less than a month in the summer of 2004. My family takes time each year to collect water, batteries, can food, candles and have a filled tank for our grill. Some people believe that preparing causes children to become anxious but I believe that it is just the opposite. Being prepared gives us all a sense that we can have some control over surviving these weather events.

Focus on the coming together of family, friends and stranger lending a hand the generosity of strangers